Star Cutouts Ltd

What Star Cutouts Ltd does

Star Cutouts Ltd is a UK-based, founder-led manufacturer and retailer specialising in licensed and personalised cardboard cutouts, face masks, and printed display boards for parties, events, and fans. Operating since 2001 from a single manufacturing facility in Ashton-under-Lyne (Manchester), the company uses FSC-certified cardboard and high-resolution colour printing to produce life-size, shelf-top, and stand-in cutouts, alongside masks, backdrops, sailboards, silhouettes, giant heads, and themed decoration bundles. Its catalogue spans over 2,836 SKUs and is supported by direct licensing relationships with major entertainment IP holders including DC Comics, Warner Brothers, BBC, Hasbro, Paramount, and Universal, as well as celebrities, sports stars, and historical figures.

The company monetises through three interlocking revenue streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce on its Shopify storefront at starcutouts.com, a dedicated B2B wholesale trade-account programme serving event planners, party shops, retailers, and dropshippers, and a custom/personalised cutout service where customers supply their own images at premium prices. Unit pricing for individual cutouts ranges from approximately £19–£35, with masks starting at £2.58 and bundled decoration packs at higher price points; EU orders are processed through the IOSS system with a £135 duty threshold, and UK free shipping kicks in above £300 (or £500 for trade).

Distribution spans four routes: the own e-commerce storefront, Faire Wholesale marketplace listing, dropshipping services with Next Day Delivery for trade customers, and a Collective retailer-referral partner channel. The company also holds NABAS membership for industry compliance and markets ethically sourced, fully recyclable products. Star Cutouts self-describes as the UK's largest retailer of licensed cardboard cutouts; the operation is privately held with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, no M&A activity, and a headcount of 11–50 employees.

Name

Star Cutouts Ltd

Legal name

Star Cutouts Ltd

Website

https://starcutouts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Star Cutouts Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer and e-commerce retailer of licensed cardboard cutouts, face masks, and themed party decorations, serving consumers, event planners, party shops, retailers, and dropshippers from its Manchester facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cardboard Cutouts & Party Decorations

SIC

Costume Jewelry & Novelties (3960)

akta.pro primary industry

Party & Entertaining Disposable Supplies (CRAJAGAL)

Keywords

• Cardboard cutouts
• Licensed character merchandise
• Party decoration wholesale
• Custom printed displays
• Event props manufacturing

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Retail Sales: One-time purchase revenue from selling cardboard cutouts, masks, and related products directly to consumers through their e-commerce website. Products range from individual cutouts to bundles and decoration packs.
2. Wholesale/Trade Account Sales: B2B sales to trade customers including event planners, party shops, retailers, and dropshippers through dedicated wholesale accounts with volume discounts and net payment terms.
3. Custom/Personalised Products: Revenue from personalised cutouts, face masks, sailboards, and signs where customers submit their own images for custom creations at premium pricing.
4. Dropshipping Services: Fulfilled dropshipping service where trade customers can order products that are shipped directly to their end customers, with Next Day Delivery available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Star Cutouts Ltd designs, manufactures, and sells licensed and personalised cardboard cutouts, masks, backdrops, stand-ins, and themed decoration packs for parties, events, retail displays, and fans. Products are produced in-house at the company's Ashton-under-Lyne facility and distributed to consumers and trade customers through its own e-commerce site, a dedicated wholesale programme, a marketplace listing, and dropshipping services.

Product overview

Star Cutouts Ltd operates as a UK-based manufacturer and retailer of licensed cardboard cutouts and associated party decorations. The product portfolio centres on cardboard cutouts and masks available in multiple size tiers (large life-size, standard, mini/shelf-top), supplemented by themed decoration packs, personalised custom-cut products, and B2B wholesale services. Core product lines include Large Cardboard Cutouts, Star Mini Small Cutouts, Cardboard Masks (single and multi-pack), Personalised Cutouts and Masks, Backdrops & Sailboards, Stand Ins, Shelf Toppers, Table Toppers, Wall Cutouts, Circle Signs, Giant Heads, Silhouettes, and bundled Party/Room Decoration Packs. The company also offers a Wholesale Trade Account programme for B2B customers including event planners, party shops, retailers, and dropshippers. All products are manufactured in the company's Manchester facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Large Cardboard Cutouts Life-size and oversized freestanding cardboard cutouts (under 1m to over 7ft tall) featuring licensed characters, celebrities, sports stars, and historical figures, with integrated support stands and high-resolution colour print.
• Shelf Top Cardboard Cutouts Compact cardboard cutouts (typically around 30cm) designed for shelf tops, mantles, and tabletop displays, featuring popular characters in miniature format.
• Cardboard Face Masks Single and multi-pack cardboard face masks featuring celebrities, characters, sports figures, and themed designs, manufactured with tabs and elastic for wearing; six-pack mask sets available.
• Personalised Cardboard Cutouts Custom life-size cardboard cutouts manufactured from customer-supplied images for personalised events, celebrations, and gifts.
• Personalised Face Masks Custom cardboard face masks produced from customer-supplied images for personalised party or event use.
• Cardboard Backdrops & Sailboards Large cardboard backdrop panels and sailboards for event decoration, party setups, and balloon displays, available in themed designs and personalised options.
• Stand In Cutouts Face-in-the-hole style cardboard cutouts for photo opportunities, available in adult and child sizes for events, parties, and entertainment venues.
• Table Topper Cutouts Decorative cardboard pieces designed for table display at events and parties.
• Wall Cardboard Cutouts Cardboard cutouts designed for wall mounting and display in rooms, venues, and event spaces.
• Circle Signs Circular correx signs available in various sizes and colours with personalisation options.
• Giant Head Cutouts Oversized cardboard head cutouts for events and parties, providing comedic photo opportunities.
• Silhouette Cutouts Black silhouette-style cardboard cutouts featuring themed figures, historical characters, and party props.
• Party & Room Decoration Packs Curated multi-item bundles (up to 12 items per pack) containing themed cardboard cutouts and decorations for parties and full room transformations.
• Wholesale Trade Account Programme B2B trade account programme offering volume discounts, tiered pricing, net payment terms, dedicated wholesale catalogue access, and dropshipping fulfilment for event planners, party shops, retailers, and dropshippers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,836+ products available
• +2 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NABASminorOthersStar Cutouts is a member of NABAS (National Association of Balloon and Accessories Suppliers), demonstrating compliance with industry standards for balloon and party accessories. This membership indicates adherence to professional standards in the party decorations industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Etsy (third-party cutout sellers): Marketplace hosting independent cardboard cutout and personalised party decor makers. Comparable as an indirect competitive channel that fragments demand for custom and non-licensed cutouts away from specialist manufacturers.

Direct peers

• The Cardboard Cutout Shop: UK online retailer of custom and celebrity cardboard cutouts. Directly comparable as a UK head-to-head competitor on cutout manufacturing, custom orders, and celebrity/fan markets.
• Ginger Ray: UK party decorations brand producing themed balloons, banners, and party props. Comparable as a UK party decor specialist selling through wholesale and DTC into the same event and retail customers.
• Advanced Graphics: US manufacturer of life-size cardboard stand-ups and point-of-sale displays, with a strong licensed character lineup. Closely comparable to Star Cutouts in licensed IP, life-size format, and trade/B2B servicing of retailers and event organisers.
• Talking Tables: UK party decorations and tableware brand. Comparable as a UK-based party decor specialist with multi-channel distribution and a similar mix of themed, licensed and seasonal products.
• BigMouth Inc: US-based novelty brand best known for oversized cardboard character cutouts and drinkware. Directly comparable to Star Cutouts on product type (life-size character cutouts) and target use case (parties, fans, photo props).

Broad incumbents

• Oriental Trading: US mass-market party supplies and novelties retailer. Comparable on party decor, novelty products, and themed merchandise sold to consumers, schools, and event organisers, though across a much wider assortment.
• Amscan (Party City Holdings): One of the largest global party goods manufacturers and distributors. Overlaps with Star Cutouts on party decor, licensed character merchandise, and wholesale supply to retailers, but operates across a much broader product portfolio.
• Beistle Company: US party goods and decorations manufacturer with a heritage in themed novelties. Comparable as a long-established party decoration manufacturer selling through wholesale and DTC into the same retail and event channels.

Regional players

• Hobbycraft: UK's largest specialist arts, crafts, and party retail chain. Comparable as a UK channel that stocks licensed party decor and themed products sold to the same consumer and party-planner base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/starcutouts1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/star-cutouts-limited

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Star Cutouts Ltd